Pacific Resources for Education and Learning

Building Capacity Through Education

• Overview
• Organization
• • Organization Profile
  • Pacific Service Region
  • Accreditation & Affiliations
  • Awards & Recognition
  • Annual Report 2009
  • Strategic Plan
  • Partners
  • Donate to the PREL Pacific Teacher Scholarship Fund
• People

• Home
• About PREL
• Organization
• Pacific Service Region
• Republic of the Marshall Islands

Republic of the Marshall Islands

• American Samoa
• Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands
• Federated States of Micronesia
• Guam
• Hawai‘i
• Republic of the Marshall Islands
• Republic of Palau

The Republic of the Marshall Islands (RMI) consists of two chains of 29 coral atolls and five low islands stretching several hundred miles from north to south, with a total land area of 70 square miles and a population of 61,815 (est. 2007). The republic, formerly a United Nations Trust Territory, entered into a Compact of Free Association with the U.S. in October 1986. A mainstay of the economy is the U.S. space tracking station on Kwajalein, but the Marshalls are also developing their agriculture and marine resources.

Culture

The Marshallese culture is matrilineal. Women have always had great influence and power. The traditional roles of women are still recognized and respected, even if their function no longer exists or has been changed over time. Politeness is a part of the Marshallese custom. Children are taught at a young age to respect their elders. The deep sense of respect for elders has made it common practice not to talk back, especially when being scolded for doing wrong. The children learn at a very early age to remain quiet when an older person is talking.

Language

English and Marshallese are the official languages, but for the most part, English is the language of the elite and the educated. English is the language of instruction at the secondary level while Marshallese is dominant in the elementary grades. The two chains of islands in the Marshalls, the Ratak and the Ralik, both have variations in terminology and pronunciation; however, the people of all the atolls understand the general language. Useful greetings are provided with English translations and phonetic pronunciations on Language Cards.

Education

The Republic of the Marshall Islands has 76 public elementary schools, 25 private elementary schools, 6 public high schools, and 15 private high schools (source: MOE School Enrollment Statistics 2006–2007). Elementary school curriculum is designed to prepare students to function in the Marshall Islands and for entrance into the Marshall Islands Secondary Program. Secondary education prepares pupils to function in the Marshall Islands, and with this greater scope of education, as citizens of the world community. There are 82 public schools with an enrollment of 11,316 students.

PREL Service Center, Majuro

P.O. Box 1186
Majuro, MH 96960
Phone: (692) 625-2343
Fax: (692) 625-2345
Email: rmisc@prel.org

Ministry of Education

Mr. Nidel Lorak, Minister of Education
P.O. Box 3
Majuro, MH 96960
Phone: (692) 625-4673
Fax: (692) 625-3861
benrollay@yahoo.com

Institutions of Higher Education

College of the Marshall Islands

Dr. Kenneth Woodbury, President
College of the Marshall Islands
P. O. Box 1258
Majuro, RMI 96960
Phone: (692) 625-6895
Fax: (692) 625-7203
Email: kwoodbury@cmi.edu

Government

Governments on the WWW: Marshall Islands

Airline Service

Air Marshall

Continental Airlines

Contact PREL

About PREL

News